Tucson Standard

Arizona Senator Justine Wadsack has spoken out against a statement released by Arizona House Democrats, who called for gun safety reforms following a recent mass shooting in Maine. Wadsack argued that the issue at hand is not about guns, but rather a mental health problem.

"This is not a gun issue. This is a mental health issue," Wadsack stated.

The Arizona House Democrats' statement, as reported by a House Democrats press release, expressed their readiness to pass common-sense gun safety reforms. They called on their Republican colleagues to stand up to the powerful gun lobby and support efforts to address gun violence.

"Our caucus is once again ready to pass common-sense gun safety reforms, ideas backed by vast majorities of the American public who are sick of the bloodshed," said the Arizona House Democrats' statement, according to a House Democrats press release. "But our Republican colleagues with their thin majority must also find the courage to stand up to the powerful gun lobby that encourages and facilitates this violence when they demonize and mischaracterize even minor efforts at reform."

The mass shooting in Maine, which occurred last Wednesday, marked the 36th mass killing in the United States this year. The shooter, 40-year-old Robert Card, a U.S. Army reservist and firearms instructor, fatally shot 18 individuals and injured over a dozen others at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston. Card went missing after the shooting and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days later in Lisbon Falls. The firearms used in the shooting had been legally purchased.

It has been revealed that Card had been struggling with mental health issues for several months leading up to the shooting. Last summer, both the Army Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment and Card's family expressed concerns about his mental well-being. He underwent a mental health evaluation after accusing fellow soldiers of labeling him a pedophile and was admitted to a mental health facility for two weeks. On September 15, a sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Card's home for a wellness check due to concerns over his access to firearms and his reported experience of hearing voices, further raising concerns about his mental state.

In response to the call for gun safety reforms, Arizona Representative Austin Smith expressed his opposition. "You're not getting our firearms," Smith said. He criticized the idea of "minor reform" with Democrats, stating that it either leads to a ban on firearms or makes it extremely difficult for individuals to own them.

The debate between gun control and mental health continues to be a contentious issue in the United States. While some argue for stricter gun laws to prevent mass shootings, others, like Senator Wadsack, believe that addressing mental health issues should be the primary focus.